News

Air Force Investigating Social Media Allegations

—Wilson Brissett3/22/2017

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​Lt. Gen. Gina Grosso, deputy chief of staff for manpower, told Congress Tuesday the Air Force is “investigating allegations regarding information and inappropriate photographs of airmen posted on websites without their prior consent.” The investigation follows the March 4 revelation that a Marines United Facebook group was used by male service members to post nude or inappropriate photos of female service members. While refusing to comment in detail on an ongoing investigation, Grosso told the House Military Personnel Subcommittee that, “to date we have not found a site specifically dedicated to denigrating female airmen.” Other military officials told the subcommittee about the existence of sites containing inappropriate photos of members of all US military services. Referring to Title 10, article 120c of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, dealing with “other sexual misconduct,” Grosso told the committee that, in the past, the Air Force has “used Article 120 to hold airmen accountable” for the distribution of social media imagery of another airman, what she called “revenge porn.” She said the Air Force has training aimed at clarifying existing policy for all airmen and that “from an accountability perspective, we condemn these inappropriate acts.” She said the service was “considering additional authorities” to deal out appropriate consequences to any airmen who might be found responsible.